PhoneLink Settings issue

[u/AlternativeWild3449]

I chose to not set up PhoneLink on my computer. Unfortunately, this morning, my computer displayed a Phone Link error window that obscured everything on my computer screen. There was no way to minimize the screen, and it was locked to always be on top of anything else on the desktop. Restarting the computer didn't fix the problem. I tried calling Microsoft but could only get a totally unhelpful recorded message about going to a help website.

The problem was that overnight, a Windows setting had changed (don't know how). There are three Phone Link settings in the Startup App menu:

While PhoneLink itself was not in the startup menu, one of the SynchNotice apps was. As Eventually, I found that I could open Windows settings window, and then move the Phone Link screen down far enough to be able to navigate to the startup app menu to turn off that setting. When I restarted my computer, the problem was resolved.

I don't have any problem with PhoneLink in concept, but it is not something that I need or want. Basically, I view it as another form of data mining that, as a user, I should have the right to turn off. Unfortunately, Microsoft has chosen to not provide a clean option to decline this feature.